better late than never?

for the first time in a handful of months, i sit at my laptop amid two piles of laundry, a stack of paint chips, and a roll of working drawings...to write.  so much has happened.  i still have to pinch myself.  it seems like it was just april and i was preparing to start my new job.  next thing you know, summer is nearly over, my first deadline is fast approaching, and we are about to buy our first home.  they say time flies when you're having fun but i just had no idea it could go this fast.  one thing that has me so overwhelmed lately is how blessed we've been upon our return to america.  just tonight while dust and i were eating dinner, we were recalling where we were at this point in our lives exactly one year ago today....in edinburgh, living with em and simon in their flat, walking a mile or so to work, not licensed, wearing sweaters (!), training for a marathon, picking out an austin apartment on the internet, and preparing to attend a wedding in lithuania.  as we look back, we are so thankful for our experiences and friendships overseas.  we miss them terribly - though we know no amount of distance will ever reduce the value of those experiences and friendships in dramatically shaping who dustin and i are as individuals and as partners.

tomorrow we close on our first home.  for the first time in 12 years (basically since we lived at home and attended high school) dustin and i will attempt to grow roots.  we realize that we won't ever know exactly what the future holds for us, but we are excited at the prospect of unpacking our suitcases for a while and moving in someplace for a little while.  after four adventurous years of marriage we're excited about the simple 'joys' that come with home ownership: mowing the lawn, painting the walls, buying full-sized furniture, hanging wind chimes, etc.  most of all, though, we are excited about having a place to welcome our loved ones as we learn the ropes.  i am sure we will have more than our share of unexpected trips to lowe's in the coming weeks but we are eager to settle in and enjoy the slow lane for a while...on frontier trail.  

since i've been remiss in updates, here are a handful of images which sum up the last five months.....

a wonderful family easter celebration

miss alyssa turned 1!

railroad revival tour the day i landed my job at PSP

we raced for a cure

we're getting reacquainted with the heat

dining out with a wee claire bear (oh, and her parents too)

dustin turns 30!

my alsup 'babies' are growing like weeds!

miss jada turns 1!

family pilgrimage to jimmy buffett

bob schneider and pork tacos at blues on the green

grandad's 86th bday at the missions game

kev and debran get engaged!

robot dance party - adult summer camp at laguna jack

20 years of the kessing family reunion

4707 frontier trail